The Suffering And Death Of The Messiah

THE SUFFERING AND DEATH OF THE MESSIAH
Psalms 22:1-31 is another song of David that reflect both the experiences of that king as well as the sufferings and death of the greater Son of David. The cry from the cross. My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?

Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. (Psalms 22:1).

These words were echoed by Jesus upon the cross. They point to the mysterious separation that took place there. They hint that, for a brief instant of time, the Son was separated from the Father as He bore our guilt upon the tree. The mockery of the onlookers: All who see me sneer at me; they separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying, 8 “Commit yourself to the LORD; let Him deliver him; let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.” (Psalms 22:7-8). Those who mock King David in his troubles are a mere shadow of the men who would one day mock the Messiah. The physical sufferings.

14 I am poured out like water,
And all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax; It is melted within me.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And my tongue cleaves to my jaws;
And Thou dost lay me in the dust of death.

16 For dogs have surrounded me;
A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
They pierced my hands and my feet.

17 I can count all my bones.
They look, they stare at me (Psalms 22:14-17). The spiritual and emotional suffering of the Messiah was accompanied by real physical suffering. Crucifixion was an agonizing death that often included dislocation and muscle cramps that added to the pain of piercing hands and feet. The divided garments: They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. (Psalms 22:18).

All four of the gospel accounts make mention of the dividing of the clothes of Jesus among the soldiers (Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:24).